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If you’ve been watching our videos for a while, you might have seen my old shop space:
IT WAS AWESOME!!!
Unfortunately, it’s also located on a property that we don’t own anymore. You see, we moved to a different part of Utah a couple months ago, and with all our travel I haven’t had time to set up the new shop yet. Good news, I’m finally FINALLY starting to change that.
The space for my shop in our new digs is actually quite nice, as you see in the video. But building it out has taken a back seat to the hundred thousand different little projects that pop up when you move. Many of those projects entered me into a weird chicken-and-egg loop, with conversations like this:
Me: “Hey. I’d like to start putting together my shop.”
Stef: “Sure sweetie. As soon as you finish the shelves I asked you to make.”
Me: “Uh… but I need a shop to make those shelves.”
Stef: “Oh. Well maybe you could modify that rack in the pantry instead.”
Me: “Need the shop for that one, too.”
Stef: “Add a toe-kick to the cabinets in the…”
Me: “Shop.”
Stef: “Replace…”
Me: “Shop.”
Stef: “Well, is there anything you *can* do without your shop?”
Me: “Pout. I can pout.”
Eventually, the lack of productivity getting HER projects done wore her down, and here we are. I’ll be putting up these videos at various points throughout the process so you’ll be along to witness the whole ordeal. I hope to be done by the end of the year, but we’ll see how that goes. Things have a way of taking much longer than I expect.
Next up will be the flooring! Looking forward to your thoughts and feedback as I go.
What a great space for a shop. I know the new house will be challenge some days, but you both have the right attitude to make it great home. Remember to enjoy the journey.
Right now, I feel like I’d enjoy being done!
(Or at least having some heat out there…)
Congratulations on you new digs! Now you get to start modifying and making new stuff…fun right?
So impressed the two of you take on the “heavy stuff” into the shipping container. Who needs a gym after that workout…
Anyway… keep the shop videos coming. I’d like to here why you choose certain materials and layout as you go along. And… if you can fit it in… I’d love your thoughts on what would be the order of buying tools and equipment for a new shop starting out. I’ve got a van coming and need to add more shop “stuff”…
We had to be creative with a lot of the heavier things (air compressor, workbench, drum sander), but we got them all done.
As for what tools to buy first… all of them!!
I’ve already hit about 30 separate instances where I’ve thought “I have the perfect tool that will do that. It’s just buried in that giant shipping container somewhere…”
As a Minnesotan, I think I would solve the scorpian issue with a flame thrower… Or thermonuclear weapons. Those little things scare the bajesus out of me.
I really want to hit up all the parks in Utah, but it was bad enough in Mesa Verde last year.
Well, we don’t really have tornadoes or hurricanes here, so I guess it all evens out?
Are you familiar with Maker Spaces, community workshops with all kinds of great tools?
Just this morning I was chatting with a friend about how cool it would be to have an RV-centric Maker Space, for those of us who like to work on our campers.
Oh man. As soon as someone put something away in the wrong place, I’d go bonkers!
(Did use a shared workshop space with Gordon though when working on our skid plate.)
I’m struggling to create a space in the garage that could accommodate a 4X6 work table with an articulated lamp…
I remember my first workbench in the garage. 🙂
So why the move? You had the perfect place!
The place was great. What it was next door to… not so much.
Love it!!!!
But that video shouldn’t be labeled as a project video.
It should have been titled “Stef’s Shop Crap Workout”!!!!
Okay, so you’ve moved! So where does Lance live? I remember that nice place with the high roof, solar panels on it, etc.
Lance is in a paved RV parking spot (conveniently) alongside the soon-to-be shop.
There’s no roof yet, but we’re working on an exterior remodel that will get him under a carport within the year.
Just love your enthusiasm! And Stef’s blessing. And no, she won’t go with the container becoming an extension of your shop. You both should do ‘standup’. Eat your Wheaties James. A lot of work ahead of you. But, do enjoy as you go. Keep us posted on your progress.
Will do!
(Keep you posted, that is… not standup!)
OMG, James! You so crack me up! I can hardly get beyond the fact that you have lived like this for some time now… no order, no efficiency, and definitely no access to life as you know it! I am actually breathing into a paper sack for you (and kinda for me) at this very moment. 😉 The conversation with you and Stef is priceless, not to mention you wanting to keep the super cool and industrial shipping container on the drive way (for questionable Travato owning guests who stop by and need to sprawl? 😉 and Stef yelling, “No you’re not,” in the background. I can’t wait to see the progress and especially the conclusion! Keep the entertainment coming! Now bring on the sawdust!